Socital Networking

Happy New Year! IMSH 2013 is coming up in less than two weeks, and I look forward to seeing everyone in Orlando.Many SSH members have a special interest in using various simulation tools (computer simulation, mannequins, etc.) to study the interactions between three major entities of the healthcare delivery system (and sub-systems): patients, providers, and processes.

A few years ago, I started to think about what is the connection between various simulation tools and its application to study complex systems after I read Dr. Stephen Small’s paper “Simulation Applications for Human Factors and Systems Evaluation”With an opportunity to learn from a Professor of Industrial Engineering (Dr. Huitian Lu) , I started using computer modeling to define, measure and analyze the complexities of a healthcare setting. So far, my simulation projects have been primarily focused on using systems engineering approach and computer modeling and simulation for (ICU care) process improvement in the complex healthcare delivery System of Systems.

This is also one of the key applications of simulation that has great potential to transform healthcare delivery. I know many of you have done amazing work related to this area. But we don’t yet have a formal group to discuss this topic in IMSH. So I decided to create the “System Engineering based Simulation Affinity Group” and invite you to join me to learn and share each other’s work and then disseminate the knowledge to the SSH community and beyond.

The inaugural meeting of this affinity group will take place at IMSH 2013 in Orlando. The time and location has been set as follows:

Date: Sunday, January 27, 2013

Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Room Location: Peabody Hotel Columbia 37

Please consider joining this event. Feel free to invite others who might be interested in this topic.

Please let me know you have any comments or suggestions. Thank you for your consideration! See you soon in Orlando.